The science of medicine was making great progress during the sixteenth
century. It was then that the subject of anatomy was first developed by
the celebrated Fleming, Vesalius, court physician to Charles V.[5] In
this period, also, the science of chemistry first came to be separated
from alchemy, and progressive physicians applied the new learning to
their practice.
We may be sure that our Doctor Parma belonged to the most enlightened
class of his profession. His strong: intellectual face shows him to be
one who would have little patience with quackery or superstition. He has
a high, noble forehead, keen, penetrating eyes, and a firm mouth. His
beautiful white hair gives him a venerable aspect, though he is not of
great age. It blows about his face as fine and light as gossamer. He is
an ideal "family physician," of a generation ago. We can imagine how
children would learn to look upon him with love and respect, perhaps
also with a little wholesome fear.
The hand which holds the folds of the long, black gown has a character
of its own as definite as that of the face. It is a strong, firm hand,
which looks capable of guiding skilfully a surgeon's knife.
Two fine seal rings ornament it. Such rings, sometimes of curious design
and workmanship, were often bestowed as gifts by wealthy noblemen upon
those who had done them some service.
The doctor Parma looks as good as he is wise. This benign face would
grace an assembly of notable clergymen. Indeed, the picture suggests a
well-known portrait of the great John Wesley, whose features were cast
in the same strong mould, and who also had an abundance of bushy white
hair.
By another play of the fancy we could imagine this a portrait of some
eminent judge. There is that in the face which indicates the calm,
impartial, deliberate mind that belongs to the character. He might now
be about to charge the jury, or perhaps even to pronounce sentence.
Still another opinion is that here we have a Venetian senator in his
official robes. The man is in any case an ideal professional man, a
person of brains and character, who could fill equally well a position
of responsibility in medicine, law, administrative affairs, or divinity.
With a strict sense of justice, a stern contempt for anything mean and
base, and a fatherly tenderness for the weak and oppressed, he is one in
whom we could safely put confidence.